JAPANESE IN BURMA

Southland Times, Issue 24884, 26 October 1942, Page 5

JAPANESE IN BURMA

BRITISH ATTACK PREDICTED (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, October 24. Speculation on the opening of a second front against the Japanese in Burma has been livelier since the tour by the Com-mander-in-Chief in India, General Sir Archibald Wavell, says The Daily Telegraph’s New Delhi correspondent. Suitable campaigning weather will last until May, but any effective Allied offensive must be opened long before then. The Japanese are apparently keeping a strong holding force in Burma, where they have established formidable defences. No one now thinks in terms of countering a new Japanese offensive. The question now refers to a British attack against the Japanese, instead of a Japanese invasion of India. The Daily Mail’s Assam correspondent says British and American air forces based on India are carrying out extensive operations against Japanese targets in Burma. Transport centres as well as air-fields are being plastered. A New York message says that Japan intends to hold her new empire, no matter what happens in Europe, according to Joseph Harsch, writing in The Christian Science Monitor. It would be the height of foolish optimism to assume that Germany and Japan will collapse just'because they have lost their military momentum. When Germany and Japan are approaching exhaustion both might plan to launch a peace drive. Japan has often shown greater astuteness than Germany and might launch a drive when she has settled down on her conquests. In GerI many there has always been a possibility that the generals will oust Hitler when his dream has proven unattainable and adopt the Japanese plan of a limited objective.

HELP FOR CHINESE Reopening Of Road Planned (8.0.W.) RUGBY, October 24. “If any country deserves help it is China, because she is determined to help herself,” the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr A. V. Alexander, said in a speech on behalf of the United Aid to China Fund. He expressed the opinion that Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s name would live in history as one of the world’s great leaders in peace and war. Mr Alexander said it was unfortunate that just when China was about to join hands with the Allies her communications were cut, but the Burma Road would be reopened. “It is our clear duty to give China every help in our power,” he added. “Steadily, step by step, the United Nations, as their increasing strength will enable them to do so, will wrest back from the Japanese the strategical bases necessary for the liberation of China from the Japanese strangle-hold.” INDIAN OCEAN FLEET Powerful British Squadron (8.0.W.) RUGBY, October 24. It was recently disclosed in London that a powerful battle fleet is operating in the Indian Ocean under ViceAdmiral Sir James Somerville. It includes the 30,000-ton battleships Warspite, Royal Sovereign and Resolution, the modern 22,000-ton aircraft-carrier Illustrious, presumably accompanied by a screen of cruisers, destroyers and auxiliaries.

The presence of a battle fleet in the Indian Ocean probably accounts for the reduced activity of the Japanese Navy outside the Pacific after its abortive attempt against Ceylon several months ago.